History of Clear Spring, (Washington County) Maryland United States of America

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George William Peterkin, first bishop of West Virginia and 120th in succession in the American episcopate, was born at Clear Spring, Md., March 21, 1841; son of the Rev. Dr. Joshua and Elizabeth (Hanson) Peterkin; grandson of Lieut. William Wilkes and Elizabeth (Spencer) Peterkin, and of Thomas Hawkins and Elizabeth Howard (Beall) Hanson, and great-grandson of Col. William Dent Beall of the Maryland Line. He was educated at the Episcopal High School of Virginia, 1856-58; the University of Virginia, 1858-59, and enlisted as a private in the 21st Virginia infantry, April 17, 1861, which was brigaded with the 42d and 48th regiments and after December, 1861, was attached to Jackson's division. He was promoted through the ranks of corporal and sergeant to that of first lieutenant in April, 1862; made adjutant in May, 1862; transferred to the staff of Gen. W.N. Pendleton June, 1862, and served as his aide until paroled at Appomatox court-house, April 10, 1865. He was graduated at the Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary of Virginia at Alexandria in 1868; was admitted to the diaconate, June 24, 1868, advanced to the priesthood, June 25, 1869, and was assistant to his father, rector of St. James's church, Richmond, Va., 1868-69. He was rector of St. Stephen's church, Culpeper, Va., 1869-73, and of the Memorial church, Baltimore, Md., 1873-78. The diocese of West Virginia was organized in 1877 and he was elected its first bishop, March 1, 1878, and consecrated in St. Matthew's church, Wheeling, W.Va., May 30, 1878, by Bishops Bedell, Kerfoot, Whittle, Dudley and Jaggar. In 1903 he had in his diocese 88 parishes and missions, about 4500 communicants and several well organized institutions for mission and charitable work. He was made a member of the board of managers of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary society in 1886, and visited the church mission in Brazil, S.A., at the request of the house of bishops in 1893, reporting the condition of the church in that region to the boarder managers. He also visited Porto Rico in 1901 and reported the condition of that Mission to the board. He was vice-president of the American church missionary society for some years. He was married, first, Oct. 29, 1868, to Constance Gardner, daughter of Cassius Francis and Anne Eliza (Cazenove) Lee of Alexandria, Va. She died Aug. 8, 1877; and he was married secondly, June 12, 1884, to Marion McIntosh, daughter of John Stewart of Brook Hill, Va. He received the degree D.D. from Kenyon college and Washington and Lee university in 1878, and LL.D. from Washington and Lee in 1892. He published sermons and addresses and contributed to church periodicals.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Clear Spring, (Washington County) Maryland

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